Morning journal and courier., 1887-01-15
THECOURT RECORD.
Superior Court-Criminal Stde-Judge
Andrews.

Superior Court-CriminaI Side-Judge
Andrews.
The arson case of Frank 81. Morse, of Wal
lingford was continued in the Superior court
Yesterday. Attorney Case for the defense at
tempted to break down the story of Charles
Manville, upon which the prosecution mainly
depends Manville testified in substance
that he saw Frank II. Morse at the ire.
Morse asked him what he was doing. Inc
dav after the fire he saw Morse and told him
he wanted some money. Morse gave MIN
clothes worth $40. Last March he again
saw Morse when summoned to Wallingford
to testify. Two letters were produced by
ManyilIe, which he testified came from
Morse Both letters were written from the
Pennsylvania oil district, where Morse was
employed, and promised to do the square
thing by Manville as soon as he (Morse) could
get some money. Witness swore that he had
received $S5 from Morse since the fire. A
week or So before the ire Morse asked MIN IL
there wasn't some way to fix the hydrant near
the glass works SO that the water would be
DELAYED Witness swore that he gave the
other Waterman two drinks from the pre-
scribed bottle and he went to sleep in the
coal in front of the furnace. A great effort
was required to awake him.
Attorney Case then questioned witness.
He began by asking hin how much was due
| him for his work. Witness replied that he
| had never indicated to Morse how much he
wanted and couldn't tell how much was due
him. the witness got considerably muddled
upon being questioned further, ana contra
dicted himself several times. Mr.. Case drew
from Manyille the assertion that he was at
| the factory the night of the fire at 6 O'Clock,
when Morse came around with two bottles OF
LIQUOR, one of which he was to let Pat, the
other watchman, drink two drinks from and
no more. Morse then went away and he saw
no more of him until the fire was well under
way.
Mr.. Case asked if Morse didn't send him
to his house after lantern and if he didn't
see Mrs Steele at the house and If he dldn t
tell her that he was afraid that Morse would
Law the blame of the fire on him. Manville
| replied in the negative.
Cross-examined again Manville said that
Morse had told him that he had hired Boss
man and Charles Hall to burn the building,
but they had not done it. Further said that
Morse then offered him 500 to do che job.
Refused, however Then said he would give
him 500 to act as night Waterman until
after the building was burned.
Mrs Adellah Shepard was then called to
the stand and testified to conversation that
Manville and Charles Hall had at her house.
Hall told Manville where he could get job
and receive SIT week and board. Morse
was the man who would give him the work.
Miss Carrie Shepard, daughter of the wit
ness who just left the stand, gave testimony
corroborative to that of her mother.
The next witness was August BOSNIAN.
All eyes were centered on him as he walked
to the stand. He is the one who had, when
in Jail charged with the burning of some OF
the buildings in Wal1ingford, made an aft
davit to the effect that he was guilty to the
charge of arson. The State had secured hin
as a witness against Morse. They thought
this testimony which he was about to give
would greatly help their case in eliminating
Morse. BOSNIAN utterly astounded botf
Sides He fatty denied everything he ha.
said or sworn to before.
He testified that he was employed by Morse
after the first fire in May. Never had any
conversation with Morse in reference to any
| of the fires. Made affidavit that l set two
| fires. The affidavit, however, was utterly
false Harrison, Austin and Glover sale
they would get me out from behind the bars
| and give bonds for me if l would testify
| against Morse 1 was put on oath and testi
| fed that 1 set the fires.
care you telling the truth now4" wa
asked him. eyes, I am; intend to tell tn!
whole thing now just as it was. Never hao
any conversation with Manville. Was at thu
first fire on May 20, 1888. That night wa
sleeping at Charles Halls. Woke up at II
o'clock and went to the fire."
He was here asked if he had not bough
some turpentine before the fire at Buffers
store. Witness said two bottles were pur
chased after the first fire.
''Did you not say in your affidavit that yot
and Morse went to Meriden and got turpen
tine previous to the first fres"
81 don't know. Possibly did,"
eff you did testify at the court in Walling
ford that you set fire to that building, wa
| that so?'
At this juncture Attorney Case arose AND
| offered an objection. This thing had gon
| about far enough. He wanted to advise thu
witness of his rights. He need not answe
anything which would tend to criminate
himself. What the State was trying to worl
out of him about this first FIRE had no con
] nection whatever with the fire in question il
| this case. Objection sustained.
"Well, did you set fire to the building OF
| Dec. 20, 1888"
| ssNo, sir, did not Did some work OIL
the premises previous to the fire. On thu
| night of the fire do not remember whether
was uptown or not. Saw Manville tina
| night and asked him how the fire caught
| Will positively swear I was not at the build
| ing shortly before the fire. Know nothing
| about any fire at all. Never set a building
| afire in my life"
| Witness was here caught in a pretty cor
ner, from which he did not succeed in extri
| l
| that he had in his affidavit so accurately de
scribsd the condition of the cellar in tn
building, when he had just testified that new
| er had he been inside of it.
| 1t was corker for the witness, and h
| said he did not know. He was further aske.
| how it was that he knew SO much that wa
| correct about the coal bin in the cellar. III
said he saw the boiler at the time of the fir
| and he knew there must have 1een q cos
bin.
s'Did you not say heretofore that you sat
| urated the coal in the bin with kerosene tina
Morse said was in can in the cellar? AM
! did you not say that you lighted a candl
and put it into a hole in the bin-a long can
die, too, so that it would give you about al
hour and half to get away from the build
ing?"
Witness could not remember. He refreshe
| his memory and with his face very muc
| flushed said the reason he had SO accuratel
| described the cellar was because he had rea
| the newspapers previous to the time he mad
| his affidavit. He said he got to the fire ahou
fifteen minutes after the alarm was struck
Had to go about mile. Got up and had t
dress, yet reached the scene in fifteen min
utes He was asked how many times he fe
up hill in going to the fire. Twice, he said
Judge Andrews said court could be ad
journed. Attorney Case said he had bee
very much taken by surprise by the line 9
testimony of the witness. Before adjournin
he wanted to ask how this affidavit was OF
tanned of the witness. The judge finally CAV
the witness the opportunity.
| Then BOSNIAN told of how Harrison, Gre
yer and Austin had come to the Jail. ''The
brought a quart and half of rum, toe
didn't you?" said the witness to Attorne
Harrison. The court room rang with la ugt
ter. The judge said ne would clear the ROOF
if another like outbreak was made.
Witness said they would get him out o
bonds if he would testify against Morse an
also give him sum of money. Glover CAV
him one dollar, and said that when those VIII
obtained the affidavit from him came to tn
Jail they, himself included, drank the rur
they brought.
Superior COurt-CIviI Side-Judge Tor
| rance.
The following divorces were granted yes
terday by Judge Torrance:
Cornelia L. Witherell from Byron S
Witherell of New Haven, on the ground c
habitual intemperance; married Novembe
16, 1869.
Mary E. Jones of New Haven from DAME
F. Jones of Hartford, on the ground of in
tolerable cruelty and habitual intemperance
| married Fabruarv "a 1890. cr,skadv Of mi